Electronic timepiece with a time signalling device

ABSTRACT

An electronic timepiece with a time signalling device wherein to the time signalling device is applied an output signal with a predetermined frequency which is produced from one of a plurality of cascade connected, bistable multivibrator stages in a divider which is used for dividing a high frequency signal into a standard time signal of low frequency. Further, a plurality of output signals produced from the corresponding stage are periodically and alternately applied to the time signalling device for enhancement of the tone of the time signalling sound.

Unite States Patent 11 1 Komaki Sept.18, 1973 1 nnncrnomc TIMEPIECE WITH A TIME Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson SIGNALLING DEVICE Assistant Examiner-Edith C. S. Jackmon AttorneyEric H. Waters et al.

DEV/C5 76 [76] Inventor: Shojiro Komaki, 23i Iguchi,

Mataka-shi, Tokyo, Japan 22 Filed: 7 Nov. 30, 1972 [57] ABSTRACT [21] APPL 310 913 An electronic timepiece with a time signalling device I n a p 7 wherein to the time signalling device is applied an out- [3 0] 7 Foreign Application Priority Data put signal with a predetermined frequency which is produced from one of a plurality of cascade connected, 1971 Japan ,l3}l bistable multivibrator stages in a divider which is used 21 1971 Japan "46/113313 for dividing a high frequency signal into a standard time 52 11s. (11...; .1 58/38, 58/2112 signal of low q y Further. a plurality of Output 511 1111. C1. (11m 21/16, 0041) 23/10 signals Produced from the corresponding stage are p 58 Field of Search 58/1 1 19, 21.12, riodically and alternately applied to the time Signalling 5 /23 3 57 5; 340/1 4 220 device for enhancement of the tone of the time signalling sound. [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 3,631,450 12/1971 Chalfant 3411 3211 3,664,116 5/1972 Emerson et al...; 58/23 X {wunauu Ti/Z5252 i FF! F152 73 Pin 1 l asc/zmro/i i cam 7E? D/SPA/IY /0 i /Z /5 g 1 1 l 1 My sw/ra/ Tliiljll: W/ 011.5, /7

1 l l 1 /5 1 I IMP /4 1 l i 1 #66/575/1 1 /a l s/a/wzu/va l Patented Sept. 18; 1973 3 Sheets-Sheet l 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Sept. 18, 1973 3 wai 36% ELECTRONIC TIMEPIECE WITH A TIME SIGNALLING DEVICE FIELD OF INVENTION I The present invention relates to an electronic timepiece with a signalling device, and more particularly to an electronic timepiece with a time signalling device adapted to produce a comfortable time signalling sound at a set time with accurate time intervals.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Conventional time signalling devices used with a half the frequency by flip-flop circuits FF,, FF

time-piece have been of such a type that they are prosounds with different frequencies.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic timepiece with a signalling device which produces a comfortable time signalling sound at a prede terminedtime with accurate time intervals.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic timepiece with a time signalling device wherein the time signalling device produces periodical and alternate sounds with different frequencies.

An electronic timepiece with a time signalling device according to the present invention comprises a divider including a plurality of counting-down devices connectedin a cascade. manner for dividing a high frequency signal from a standard oscillator into a standard time signal of low frequency, and a switching device for operating said time signalling device at a set time, one of the output signals with a predetermined frequency produced from one of the output terminals of said counting-down devices being selectively applied to. said time signalling device, thereby producing a time signalling sound with an audible frequency. The counting down device may be, for example, a bistable multivibrator for dividing the frequency of a signal into half the frequency. v

Further, a plurality of output signals with a predetermined frequency produced from the output terminals of said counting down devices are periodically and alternately applied to said time signalling device under the control of signal produced'from one of the output terminals of said counting-down devices, thereby producing a time signalling sound witha plurality of tones.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING In the drawing;

present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In FIG. 1 there is shown a circ'uit'diagram wherein a quartz oscillator produces a time signal of high frequency which is successively divided into a signal of k diagram showing an arrangement of FFn in a divider Ill. The divided output signal generated from the divider 11 is applied to a time counter 12 for. counting time signals for seconds, minutes and hours (and including ifdesired, a date or day). Further, the output signal generatedin the counter 12 is applied to a display means 13 including a decoder and driver to display time. The circuit further includes a signal time memorizing register 18, an electronic switch controlling circuit 17 by which an electronic switch S is closed when the output generated from the counter 12 coincides with that from the register 18, and a time signalling device 16 comprising an amplifier 14 and a speaker 15.

In order to signal the time at a predetermined time, input signals containing the time signals to be signalled are applied to the register 18 for setting the time to be signalled. When the counter 12 counts the time signals to the set time, the electronic switch S, is closed due to operation of the electronic switch controlling circuit 17. One of the output signals having a predetermined frequency which is produced from the standard oscillator l0 and then divided by the divider is selectively applied to an input of the time'signalling device 16 for producing a signal sound with a predetermined audible frequency. The frequency of the signal generated from the quartz oscillator is, for example, 2 Hz (=l6,384

Hz), and thus an audible frequency from 2 Hz (=8,l92 Hz) to 2 Hz (=l28 Hz) may be utilized as the signal for the time signalling sound.

Therefore, for example, the output frequency signals required for the time signalling sounds may be selected from the flip-flop circuits FF,, FF FF FF FF FF or FF, (FR, FF ,FF FF, not being shown in FIG. I).

In FIG. 2, thereis' shown another circuit diagram usedin an electronic timepiece with a time signalling device according to the invention. When the counter 12 counts the time signals to the set time, the electronic switch S, is closed due to operation of the electronic switchcontrolling circuit 17 Therefore, the output signal generated from a time signal controlling circuit 19 is applied to an input of time signalling device 16 comprising an amplifier 14 and a speaker 15. The time signal controlling circuit 19 receives the signals of output frequencies a and b generated-from flip-flop circuits FF, and FF of the divider 11. Further, the time signals controlling circuit I9 receives the output signal generated from the flip-flop circuit FFn of the last stage of the divider 11. Therefore, the output signal of circuit 19 is alternately supplied with frequency a or b in response to the periodical switching selection due to the output signal of the last stage of the divider l I. The frequency of the output signal a fromthe flip-flop circuit FF, is, for example, 2 Hz (4,096 Hz) while the frequency of the output signal b from the flip-flop FF circuit is 2." Hz (2,048 Hz) when the oscillator 10 produces, for example, an output signal of. frequency 2" Hz (16,384 Hz).

Further, when the output signal from the flip-flop FF circuit is used as the input signal to the time signal controlling circuit 119, the output signal from circuit 19 is l Hz in frequency. As a result, due to the switching operation of the output signal from the last stage of the circuit 19 with the frequency of 1 Hz, the output signal from the flip-flop circuit FF, is generated for tb=l sec and the output signal from the flip-flop circuit FF, is

generated for ta=l sec, as shown, and these output signals are applied to the time signalling device 16.

For example, in the above-mentioned circuit, if the input signal to be applied to the time signalling device is extracted from adjacent flip-flop circuits, two kinds of time signalling sound differing by one octave are periodically and alternately produced by the speaker.

Further, two kinds of sounds corresponding to the C tone and M tone of a musical scale are easily obtained by selecting output signals from the divider, whereby it is possible to produce a very beautiful and comfortable sound therefrom.

ln FIG. 3, there is shown another embodiment in which a 3-abic counting-down circuit including flipflop circuits FFn+l and FFn+2 is connected to the output of circuit FF so that signals of the frequencies 4,096/3 Hz and 4,096/2 Hz appear on the terminals a and b, respectively. The frequency ratio of 2 to 3 produces the time signalling sound with an interval of C and M, thus making a perfect S-degrees music interval.

Sound composed of tones of this interval is very comfortable and beautiful. It is noted that the signalling sound is so selected that the signals from the terminals a and b are changed by only alternately but also in any other desired mode by selecting the control terminal in the divider l1.

Furthermore, the control signal applied to the time signal controlling circuit 19 can be changed in frequency by switching the output terminal and flip-flop circuit of the divider (for example, from the output terminal d of the flip-flop FFn to the output terminal c of the flip-flop FFn-l thus insuring the production of various kinds of sounds. Moreover, it will be appreciated that the electronic switch controlling circuit shown operates the electronic switch S to signal at a predetermined time.

As mentioned above, the time signalling device ac-" cording to the invention brings about many advantages as follows: signal sounds having a different kind of audible frequency can be selected according to the use mode because the time signal is selected from suitable output terminals of flip-flop circuits in the divider. A stable time signalling sound can be obtained because of the use of a frequency generated from a quartz oscillator. Further, it is possible to signal exactly the time to be signalled after the closing of the electronic switch because the time is memorized by the signal time memorizing register. Further, any combination of two or' more output signals having a desired frequency can be periodically and alternately generated from the divider under control of the output signal produced from any other terminal of the divider for application of the signal to the time signalling device.

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic timepiece including a time signalling device and comprising a standard oscillator for generating a high frequency signal, a divider coupled to said oscillator and including a plurality of counting-down devices connected in cascade for sequentially and respectively dividing the high frequency signal from the standard oscillator into a plurality of different intermediate frequencies and into a standard time signal of low frequency, and a switching device for operating said time signalling device at a set time and for applying one of the frequencies produced by said counting-down devices selectively to said time signalling device thereby producing a time signalling sound with an audible frequency.

2. An electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein each said counting-down device is a bistable multivibrator for dividing the frequency applied thereto in half.

3. An electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein said divider includes a plurality of output terminals connected to at least some of said countingdown devices and means by which the frequencies produced at said output terminals are periodically and alternately applied to said time signalling device under control of a signal produced from one of the output terminals of said counting-down devices, thereby producing a time signalling sound with a plurality of tones.

4. An electronic timepiece according to claim 3, wherein two output signals produced at two output terminals adjacent of said counting-down devices are periodically and alternately applied to a time signalling device, thereby producing a time signalling sound with two tones which are one octave different in frequency from each other.

5. An electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein said oscillator is a quartz oscillator.

6. An electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein said counting-down devices are flip-flop connected in series.

7. An electronic timepiece according to claim 1, comprising a counter and display means connected in series to said divider.

8. An electronic timepiece according to claim 1, comprising register means and switch controller means coupled to each other, said switch controller means being coupled to said switching device.

* i i i i N T UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,759, 29 Dated eptember- 18, 1973 Inventor(s Shojiro Komeki It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet insert Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha, Kameido, Koto-ku, Tokyo, Japan Signed and sesled this an day of Api il 19m.

(SEAL) Attest: I C

EDT'J'ARD I LFLETCHEILJR. v I I C. MARSHALL DANN Attes'ting Offlicer v e Commissioner of Patents F ORM PO-1050 10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 UTS. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I969 0-366-334,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3:75 029 Dated septembar 1973 Inventor(s) Shojiro Komeki It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet insert Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha, Kameido, Koto-ku, Tokyo, Japan Signed and sealed this 2nd day of April 19714..

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD I I.FLE TCHER.JR. I C. MARSHALL DANN Atte sting Officer Commissioner of Patents USCOMM'DC 5376-P69 U,S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1969 0-356-334.

FORM PO-IOSO (10-69) 

1. An electronic timepiece including a time signalling device and comprising a standard oscillator for generating a high frequency signal, a divider coupled to said oscillator and including a plurality of counting-down devices connected in cascade for sequentially and respectively dividing the high frequency signal from the standard oscillator into a plurality of different intermediate frequencies and into a standard time signal of low frequency, and a switching device for operating said time signalling device at a set time and for applying one of the frequencies produced by said counting-down devices selectively to said time signalling device thereby producing a time signalling sound with an audible frequency.
 2. An electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein each said counting-down device is a bistable multivibrator for dividing the frequency applied thereto in half.
 3. An electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein said divider includes a plurality of output terminals connected to at least some of said counting-down devices and means by which the frequencies produced at said output terminaLs are periodically and alternately applied to said time signalling device under control of a signal produced from one of the output terminals of said counting-down devices, thereby producing a time signalling sound with a plurality of tones.
 4. An electronic timepiece according to claim 3, wherein two output signals produced at two output terminals adjacent of said counting-down devices are periodically and alternately applied to a time signalling device, thereby producing a time signalling sound with two tones which are one octave different in frequency from each other.
 5. An electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein said oscillator is a quartz oscillator.
 6. An electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein said counting-down devices are flip-flop connected in series.
 7. An electronic timepiece according to claim 1, comprising a counter and display means connected in series to said divider.
 8. An electronic timepiece according to claim 1, comprising register means and switch controller means coupled to each other, said switch controller means being coupled to said switching device. 